Stories Less Spoken

In this episode, we hear three perspectives on Rehab and addiction from three lenses, including poetry from writer Ash Winters, storytelling from former opiate addict Brad Gerald, and a story from our host Cole Kelly, who spent 45 days in rehab in 2020 after she woke up in a jail cell. This episode deals with some pretty heavy subjects, which may be difficult for some listeners to hear, including addiction, attempted suicide, drug overdoses, and death due to drug overdoses. There is also a fair amount of swearing in this episode, if you are sensitive to that.    Featured in this episode: Poetry by Ash Winters Storytelling by Brad Gerald, Cole Kelly

**Trigger warning** This episode contains subject matter that some listeners may find difficult to listen to, including abuse and suicide.  In this short mid-month episode, we hear a spoken word piece by Kendall Rhae performed live in the Stories Less Spoken studio to a piano composition by our host and prolific Victoria musician Colin Craveiro. For our feature story, Jessica Jansen speaks of loss, love and saying what you mean, when there is still time to say it. Featured in this episode: Will You Melt? by Kendall Rhae Say What You Mean, by Jessica Jansen

We have an incredible episode of Stories Less Spoken celebrating Black History Month and making meaningful connections with our community in Victoria.In this episode, "Where We Are," we feature stories of Victoria's first Black pioneers from Silvia Mangue Alene from the  BC Black History Awareness Society, a tale of purpose and Shea Butter from Gifty at Shea Butter Market, a story from Barbados by cricket legend Tony Cordle and a strong and touching piece on beauty standards by art therapist Stephanie Sweetnam. 

Find Your Centre is an episode about the journeys we take to find meaning in difficult things. In our first story, world traveller, yoga instructor and paramedic in training  Rory Bennett tells us a funny and heartwarming true tale about summit fever on a mountain in India, and finding love in the world around you.And for our feature spot, we are airing 'The Cave,' a radio drama about a grieving young woman looking for enlightenment deep in the forest, only to encounter a dangerous animal. This was written by Colin Craveiro, performed in part by Elizabeth Blanco, with music composed by Nate Bailey. This episode was produced and hosted by Cole Kelly and Colin Craveiro, with music by Rhys Batstone and Darren Chambo. 

We take a deep dive into Mino Devost's 'apocalyptic phase' and the long and fascinating process of writing her new song 'Love Her Like You're Leaving.'I promise you, you will not see this story coming...   

In this very special episode of Stories Less Spoken, a story is told by the late Daniel Jeremiah Bennett, in a recording just recently found,  He tells a beautiful story about diving, grey whales and how sometimes, we suffer through difficult things to get to the really amazing stuff. Featured in this episode:Daniel Bennett, diver, explorer, sailor, brother, force to be reckoned with

On the sixth instalment of the Little Story Series Sail Cassady speaks about his personal experiences with religion and the terrors of angels watching you in your sleep.We talk about the story behind the lyrics in his new song and short film 'Old Green House,' and about the abandonment of expectations in art as one evolves.   This is an inspiring and honest conversation about change and growth and acceptance through the medium of creating. 

Rebecca Barritt from R.Mason doesn't like small talk and so that's not what we do in this episode.   In this instalment of the Little Story Series, we dive into the lyrics behind R.Mason's epic new track 'L.A. Wannabe', defend pumpkin spice lattes and explore the nature of hiding ourselves and laying ourselves bare.  

Compromise. Trade-off. Concession. Call it what you will, but we all have to do it. The question is, how much can we give up before it is too much for the reward? In two very different worlds and two very different stories, we’ll explore the extent of what one will do to get what they want…. This is Episode Three of Season Two: What We must Give up Featured in this episode: Marty Anderson, author, The Big Reveal performed by Michael MaitlandGlenn Mori, author, Rate of Exchange performed by Lorne Sutherland

It's hard to see your giants fall... In this instalment of the Little Story Series, Victoria singer-songwriter Aaron Wylder talks about the amazing life of his late grandfather, who was the inspiration behind his latest song, 'Great Man.'  

Burning churches,  bad poetry and quite a bit of swearing... In episode three of the Little Story Series, all three member of The Hex visit the Stories Less Spoken studio to talk about the dark story behind their song 'Unholy Ghost.'

In the second instalment of the Little Story Series for Season Two of Stories Less Spoken, Cole sits down with Victoria musician Michael Wilford to talk about the lyrics behind his new single  Rattle My Bones, feat. Sail Cassady. It is a darkly playful song born from the Covid-19 pandemic with a chorus about beinghaunted by your demons and the ghosts in your closet. Michael opens up about his own ghosts, his songwriting process and the role creating art plays in coping with difficult times during the pandemic.

In episode two of our second season, we explore two tales of accidents and injury, to see if what doesn't kill you truly does make you stronger. In our first story,  we dance between myth and memory as a father describes the origin of three holes in the back of his head, and the Greek gods who kept him safe.  Our second story is a tale of a young girl,  unspoken dreams, monotonous work and an unfortunate incident with a wood splitter… In this episode: Loucas Raptis, author, They Named Me, More or Less, Immortalperformed by Trevor Ainsworth W.M. Herring, author, The Wedge performed by Jessica WoollardAnd a very special thanks to both our acting coach, Joy Emmerson, and also to our guest helper Helen Cranstoun, who helped us with Greek pronunciations! 

Time and death and all the inspiration in between... On the very first instalment of the Little Story Series, host Cole Kelly speaks with Victoria musician Nick Mintenko about the story behind the lyrics in his new song Phantom,  recorded live off the floor at the Barnhouse Studio in Qualicum, BC.   "My music is often a way for me to self soothe, or celebrate small victories. Another way to put it is that my poetry, when put in a musical context, helps me share and experience life more fully with my friends, family, and anybody really. I have lots of far reaching roots in music and composition. My musical influences, education, professional, and personal experience range across genres (including Folk, Jazz, RnB, Rock, and many more) and are contextualized by my life and love of art. I have toured across North America and Europe, written 100 songs, recorded maybe a dozen albums. I’ve done it all as a sideman and a bandleader, and I’d do it again."​

 What role do places play in our longing, our grieving, and our loving?  What lengths do we go to hold onto the memories of a place we have left, or to disassociate from one we are still in? In the first episode of our second season, we explore places that we long to go back to, and places where we have forgotten we still are. Featured in this episode: Places I Return to Often, Christine Bissonette Darius and The Joshua Tree, Shawnda Wilson Performed by Arlen James Finnerty  

Performing live from Moon’s Records in Cumberland, BC, for the famous Woodstove Festival, a man is brought to the brink of insanity when he can’t get noticed by a barista, a new mother struggles with an absent sex drive and a wayward husband, and a mom at home sees her day through the lists she makes to fill it up. Featured in this episode: A Day’s Work, Marlet Ashley Performed by Kim June Johnson Needs, Traci Skuce Performed by Melisa Devost  The James Bay CafeWritten and performed by Cole Kelly 

Strap yourselves in listeners, we’re about to go for a ride...In this episode, finger paint therapy at a women’s prison doesn’t achieve the desired results and a chase ensues after a half blind man tries to escape the imprisonment of a retirement home.Featured in this episode: Jeni Gunn, author and performer, Fingerpaint Therapy Mel Dagg, author and performer, Over the Line 

Some things in life are timeless. Whether it's a classic story that has been passed down for generations, or a prized possession with profound sentimental meaning, not everything is subject to the ravages of mortality.​In this episode, an ancient myth about two global flood survivors gets a modern, irreverent twist. Plus, a long forgotten relic lost to the sands of time resurfaces in an alien world. Come join us, because old is new again.Featured in this episode:  Molly Desson, author, Deucalion and Pyrrhaperformed by Ashlee Loney Rafael Nuncio, author, But a Tiny Speck of Golden Sandperformed by  Muddy Watterswith guest hosts John Abboud and Jack Stanley

Have you ever been in a moment you didn’t want to leave?  Have you ever clung on to the present because the future held something you were afraid of, or things unfinished in the past were coming back to find their resolution?In these two stories, a murder and a missing mother hold the key to the past - while a family, in their last act of defiance against a terminal illness, travel over 21 thousand km across the country. Featured in this episode:Leandra, C.J. Papoutsis          performed by Jas WongAnd Here We Go, by Heather McLeodperformed by Joy Emerson 

Since the very start of Stories Less Spoken, we’ve received stories and auditions from very talented young writers and performers in BC. We wanted to produce an entire episode featuring young voices and the stories they have to tell. Featured in this episode: FEAR, written and performed by Lina Janeksi Little Things, Linnea Wiggers Performed by Aia Segal